Funnel and clip assembly



Feb. 9, 1960 R. R. BEDDOW FUNNEL AND CLIP ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 28, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. RAYMOND R. BEDDOW ATTORNEY- Feb. 9, 1960 R. R. BEDDOW 2,924,253 FUNNEL AND CLIP ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 28, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

RAYMOND R. BEDDOW m LSQWL.

ATTORNEY 2,924,253 Ice Patented Feb. 9, 1960 FUNNEL AND CLIP ASSEMBLY Raymond R. Beddow, Toledo, Ohio Application January 28, 1957, Serial No. 636,599

1 Claim. (Cl. 141-337) This invention relates to funnel and clip assemblies but particularly to funnels of flexible resilient material, the walls of which may be flattened to enable the same to be compacted in order to occupy a minimum of space.

Not only are funnels bulky and space consuming since they cannot be fitted readily into many storage compartments but not infrequently they are mislaid and not available at the time of need. It is a desideratum to provide a funnel and clip assembly by which the funnel can be readily compacted into a small space, making it extremely handy for carrying and storage but which also may be secured to a suitable support to prevent it from being mislaid. In connection with the gas tank of an outboard motor, for example, the funnel and clip assembly may be attached to the cap so that it is always available at the time of need.

An object is to produce a funnel and clip assembly which enables the funnel to be reduced in its size to facilitate storage and carrying, the clip serving to reduce the transverse dimension of the funnel.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, embodiments of the invention are shown on the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a funnel of resilient flexible material to which a clip is attached and showing the funnel in its compacted position, the mouth of the funnel being drawn together by the clip;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the funnel and clip assembly showing the clip in position for use as a handle for the funnel;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the clip arms in engagement with the bead at the mouth of the funnel and holding the funnel in its compacted position Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but in which the funnel is formed with a bead which extends only on the outside of the wall of the funnel;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the funnel and clip assembly showing an alternate form of clip;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the funnel and clip assembly, the funnel being in position of use;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the clip engaging opposite walls of the funnel mouth; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the clip shown on Figures 5 to 7.-

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a. funnel 10 of the usual shape having a frusto conical body portion to which a pouring spout is integrally attached. In this instance the funnel is of resilient flexible material such as rubber, or plastic. Polyethylene has been found exceedingly satisfactory for this purpose. Formed around the mouth of the funnel is a bead 11 which in accordance with Figures 1 and 2 extend only on the outside of the wall of the mouth, the inside wall of the mouth being free from any inward extension. However in Figure 3, another form of funnel is shown in 2 which the bead extends equally on the outside andinside of the wall of the funnel, such bead being indicatedat 11a.

Attached to the beaded mouth of the funnel 10 is a sheet metal clip having a pair of arms 12 and 13. A flange 14 is formed on the end of the arm 13 to receive the adjacent free end of the arm 12. It will be observed that the arms incline away from each other for a distance and thence incline inwardly toward each other, the extreme endportion thereof being in crossing relation. Interposed between an intermediate portion of the arms 12 and 13 is a coil spring 15. The end portion of the arm 12 is adapted to be attached to the bead on the mouth of the funnel for more or less permanent attachment thereto. While it can be removed from the bead, it is intended to be attached thereto at all times and as shown, the end portion of the arm 12 is bent rearwardly at an angle of approximately and thence curves downwardly and inwardly as indicated at 16, the curvature being such as to engage the funnel bead 11. The end portion of the arm' is thence bent back upon itself as shown and thence curves downwardly and inwardly as indicated at 17 so that the free end 18 of the arm is spaced a relatively short distance from the folded back end 19. The space between these two ends is such as to enable the clamping portion to be flexed over the bead in order satisfactorily to grip it and normally retain the clip permanently in place. However the clamping portion may be slid along the head 11 or 11a to militate against a set to the material of the funnel due to repeated'fiexure in compacting it and also to prevent wear of any particular portion of the bead.

The arm 13 of the clip is formed with an arched portion 20 of a curvature to fit the outer portion of the bead and this curved portion terminates in an outwardly curved lip 21, thereby eliminating any sharp portions to engage the material of the funnel.

In use it will be understood that the clip normally assumes the position such as shown on Figure 2 which provides a handle for the funnel, enabling it to be disposed in position of use and for other purposes. When, however, it is desired to compact the funnel, the sides of the mouth are brought together such as shown in Figure l to enable the curved portion 20 of the arm 13 to engage over the outer portion of the bead either 11 or 11a, thereby to retain the funnel in its compacted position with the mouth of the funnel brought close to each other. Manifestly when it is desired to use the funnel, this can be accomplished very readily by pressing on the intermediate portion of the clip to free the arm 13 from the adjacent portion of the funnel mouth and allow the latter to automatically assume its normal funnel shape.

In the arm 13 is a hole to receive a chain 22 to enable the clip and funnel assembly to be secured to a suitable support. For example in connection with outboard motors, the chain may be secured to the gasoline tank cap so that the funnel will at all times be available for use. When not in use, the funnel occupies a minimum of space and can be conveniently stored.

Figures 5 to 8 illustrate an alternate form of funnel and clip assembly. The funnel 10a is similar to the funnel according to Figures 1, 2 and 4, it being observed that the bead 11a extends only on the outside wall of the mouth of the funnel, the inside wall being smooth and uninterrupted as indicated. In this instance the sheet metal clip is differently formed than that above described.

In this instance the clip is one piece construction and is formed with hook portion 30 and 31, the hook portion 31 being somewhat larger than the hook 30 and as indicated in Figure 7, is adapted to hook over the bead 11a and remain permanently attached to the funnel. By permanent does not mean that the clip cannot be removed from the funnel but means that it will normally remain in place whereas the hook 30 may be engaged :30 and 31 is a web portionfiZ-imwhich the walls of'the clip are bent backupon eachQther-andinengagement therewith to lie within :the funnel particularly as shown in Figure 7 when in funnel collapsing engagement. It will be manifest that therclip readily attached to the bead 11a by engaging thewhook 31 with the bead. This 'fit is-suflicinetly snug to retain the clip in engagement with the funnel butas above mentioned it is not such that the clip cannot fo rcefully be removed from the funnel. When it is desired to compact the funnel, the mouth is squeezed together to the form' shown in Figure 5 and then the hook 30 is hooked over :the bead 11a opposite -to that of the bead engaged by the hook 31.

Formed on the outside o f the hook 3-1 is an eye 32 4 terial whereby opposite wall portions can be pressed approximately flatly together and when released resume 7 their normalrconical shape, a bead about the rim of the funnel mouth rounded in cross section, the inner side of the bead being flush with the inner wall of the funnel and the rounded portion thereof being essentially on the outer side of the funnel, and a sheet metal clip having a pair of hooks of rounder contour to "fit the curvature of the bead on the funnel mouth one hook havingianarc of sulficient magnitude to embrace the bead substantiallythroughout the curvature, thereof such as normally to retain it in engagement with the bead 'but with sufi'lcientylooseness to afiord sliding movement thereof along the bead, and

i the other hook --having"a somewhat shorter are so as to which as indicated may receive a chain 33 or the like 7 for attaching the assembly to a suitable support. The eye 32 may be attached to the clip in any suitable mannor as by riveting or welding. M

This application constitutes a continuation-in-part of my application entitled -Funnel and Clip Assembly" filed December 12,1956, and abandoned January 20,

1958, and bearing the SerialNo. 627,790.

, Numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and choice of materials may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appended claim. a

What I claim is: A funnel and clip assembly comprising a 'funnel having a body portion of relatively soft flexible resilient maengage only the portion of a bead diametrically opposed to that engaged by said first hook after the funnel walls have been flattened together so that the last hook can bedisengaged from the bead to open the-funnel forause without disturbing the bea'd engagement :by the ifiI'St :hook.

References Cited in the fileof thispate'nt UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,521,903 Mueller flan. 6, 1925 1,686,995 Trapnell 'oct.9, 1 923 2,091,835 Reiter Aug. 31,1937 2,279,998 1 :Laitman Apr. 14,1942

' FOREIGN PATENTS 834,198 Germany Man 17,1'95'2 

